Chapter 4: The Truth Buried Years Ago
The abandoned building smelled like dust and rain.
Victor entered first.
Marco followed.
The woman waiting inside looked terrified.
She stood immediately.
“Mr. Blackwood.””
“Your name.””
“Claire Donovan.””
“Serena’s assistant?””
Claire nodded.
“For three years.””
Victor stared.
“Why contact me now?””
“Because I thought she would stop.””
“And she didn’t.””
Claire shook her head.
“She became worse.””
Victor stepped closer.
“Tell me everything.””
Claire looked at the ground.
“When Serena met you, she already knew about Ethan.””
Victor’s jaw tightened.
“She knew.””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Claire swallowed.
“Because she had been watching your family.””
“Why?””
The answer came quietly.
“Because of her sister.””
Victor froze.
“Her sister?””
Claire nodded.
“Years ago, Serena had a sister named Amelia.””
Victor waited.
“She worked for your family.””
The room went silent.
“What does that mean?””
Claire’s eyes filled with tears.
“Amelia was Ethan’s mother’s caregiver.””
Victor felt the air leave his lungs.
His late wife.
The woman he lost after Ethan’s birth.
“What are you saying?””
Claire looked at him.
“Serena blamed your family for Amelia’s death.””
Victor stepped back.
“That’s impossible.””
“She believed your wife caused it.””
“My wife was sick.””
“I know.””
Claire lowered her voice.
“But Serena never accepted that.””
Victor’s hands tightened.
“So she entered my life for revenge?””
Claire nodded.
“But revenge wasn’t enough.””
“What did she want?””
Claire looked toward the dark hallway.
“She wanted Ethan.””
Victor’s face hardened.
“Why?””
“Because she believed taking him from you would make you suffer.””
Before Victor could respond, his phone rang.
Marco answered first.
Then his expression changed.
“Sir.””
“What?””
“Security alert.””
“From where?””
Marco looked at Victor.
“The mansion.””
They returned within minutes.
The gates were open.
The guards were unconscious.
Victor ran inside.
“Ethan!””
No answer.
The nursery door was open.
The room was empty.
For one terrifying second, Victor couldn’t move.
Then he saw something on the floor.
A toy train.
And beside it…
A note.
He picked it up.
Only one sentence.
*Come alone if you want your son back.*
Victor’s face became expressionless.
Marco looked at him.
“Sir.””
Victor folded the paper.
“She wants me angry.””
“What will you do?””
Victor looked toward the darkness outside.
“I’ll give her exactly what she wants.””
He walked toward the door.
“But she forgot one thing.””
Marco waited.
May you like
Victor’s voice was quiet.
“I don’t lose.””
